The Scarecrow by Beth Ferry (Collaboration, Cooperative Learning, Setting): Home

1st, 2nd

AASL Standard 1: Inquire, Think, and Create: Learners use skills, resources, and tools to:

• 1.1.1 Read, view, and listen for pleasure and personal growth.
• 1.1.2 Read widely and fluently to make connections with self, the world, and previous reading.
• 1.1.5 Connect ideas to own interests and previous knowledge and experience.

Standard 2: Include and Collaborate: Learners use skills, resources, and tools to:

• 2.1.3 Share knowledge and participate ethically and productively as members of our democratic society.

1 class period (45 minutes)

This lesson was created by Marlana Howerton from Ezard Elementary School. 

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

In this lesson, students will listen to The Scarecrow by Beth Ferry using the Novel Effect app to make the story come alive. Students will collaborate in small groups using the Kagan RoundTable strategy to create drawings of story settings. This lesson encourages active participation, creativity, and appreciation of the story and it's setting. 

• Book: The Scarecrow by Beth Ferry 
• Novel Effect app (This is not required for the lesson. You can read the story aloud without using the app.)
• Pencils, crayons, or markers
• White paper
• YouTube video link: The Scarecrow - Book Trailer
• The Scarecrow by Beth Ferry on TeachingBooks

Objectives

• Students will engage with the book "The Scarecrow" by Beth Ferry using the Novel Effect app to enhance their reading experience.   
• Students will participate in a cooperative learning activity to develop comprehension skills and promote collaboration while determining the various settings in a story.  

I Can Statements

• I can listen to a story using the Novel Effect app for pleasure. 
• I can work collaboratively with my peers to create a drawing of a setting from the story, explaining why I chose it and how it added to the story. 

Before Reading: 

• Introduce the book The Scarecrow and briefly discuss what a scarecrow is. Ask students to share what they know about the setting of a story. Have students think about the setting of the story when watching the following video. 
• Show YouTube Book Trailer: The Scarecrow

During Reading: 

After finishing the book trailer, read aloud The Scarecrow using the Novel Effect app to enhance student engagement when listening to the story for pleasure. (If you don't have the Novel Effect app, just read the story aloud.)

After Reading: (Cooperative Learning Activity - Kagan RoundTable)

• Divide the class into small groups of 3-4 students each.
• Provide each group with drawing materials.
• Instruct each group to form a circle, creating a RoundTable.
• Assign each student a number within the group (e.g., Student 1, Student 2, etc.).
• Explain that each student will take a turn to add something to the group's drawing related to a setting from the book.
  • Student 1 starts by drawing a part of the setting and explaining their choice to the group. Set a timer for one minute. 
  • Then, the paper is passed to Student 2, who continues the drawing and adds to the explanation for one minute.
  • Continue this process until all students have had a turn. Encourage students to build on each other's ideas.
• After the RoundTable activity, have each group briefly present their collaborative work to the class and share why they chose the setting they did. 
• Discuss the cooperative learning activity, highlighting how RoundTable allowed every student to contribute and collaborate. 

Assessment will be based on student participation during the lesson, collaboration in the cooperative RoundTable drawing activity, and the explanations provided by each group.

• Adjust assessment criteria as needed to accommodate individual abilities and needs, especially during the collaboration activity.
• Additional time may be needed for some students to finish.
• Provide support, as needed, during the collaborative activity and ask questions if students are struggling with explaining their work. 
• Provide a visual timer.